Top Tips For How To Heal Sunburn

By Deborah Lewis


A lot of today's sun worshippers are more aware of over exposing themselves to damaging rays than previous generations. They are more inclined to use sunscreen and stay inside during the hottest parts of the day. If you have stayed too long on the beach or at the pool, without using these recommended protections however, following some easy tips for how to heal sunburn is your next step.

As soon as you notice your skin getting pink, you need to leave the beach and go inside. The pink will increase to red as the hours go on, and you will begin to feel the burn. It's a good idea to get into a shower as soon as possible when you have been overexposed to the sun. You can mix baking soda and water to make a cooling compress. Too much soap will dry out your skin.

You want to avoid the temptation of lathering the skin with creams and lotion right after a burn. Hydrocortisone and aloe are good for your skin, but not until it begins to heal. You need to wait until your skin starts to dry and gets itchy to apply creams. Severe burns might need extra attention and prescription lotions.

Natural remedies are often more effective than the more expensive lotions and potions you find in stores. Cucumbers, for instance, are a good source of antioxidants and analgesics. You can turn them into paste by mashing them in a blender and then applying the paste to the affected area. Tea bags are also great for sunburns. There is tannic acid in tea that draws heat away from the body and restores PH. Cider vinegar added to bath water is another natural soother.

You know you have second degree burns when the skin actually blisters. This can become serious. Infection is a real possibility. Dry bandages over the blisters will help prevent infection. Popping blisters can cause raw skin and invite infection. It also slows down the healing process.

You do have to keep an eye on your skin to make sure it doesn't become infected. Signs of infection include fever, discharge from blisters, and pain that increases instead of decreasing. At this point you need to take a trip to a walk-in clinic or the emergency room depending on the severity of the burn.

There are some common mistakes people make that you should avoid. These include washing with harsh soap and putting butter or petroleum jelly on your skin. Doing this can make your problem worse and slow the healing process. They can also cause allergic reactions which will further complicate your situation. If you try over the counter medications, be sure to read the labels carefully.

It's a lot of fun to go to the beach or the pool in the summer. The combination of sun, water, and heat can be very relaxing. You have to be careful that you don't overdo however, and end up with a painful reminder of your outdoor excursion.




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